Monday, June 30, 2014
Melissa Fowler
202.667.5881; 202.595.4395 (after hours/cell)
mfowler@prochoice.org
Supreme Court Deals Blow to Women's Health
Statement of
Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF):
Today, the Supreme Court dealt a serious blow to women’s health when they ruled that some for-profit private corporations can deny birth control coverage to their employees.
Health decisions should be made by a women in consultation with her doctor, not her boss. The overwhelming majority of women will use contraception at some point in their lives whether for family planning or to manage a variety of medical conditions such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts. But no matter the reason, an employer should not be able to interfere with a woman’s access to affordable birth control.
The Court was very clear that this ruling only applies to the contraceptive mandate and not all insurance mandates covering treatment like blood transfusions or vaccinations. Contraception is essential health care for women, and should not be singled out for restrictions.
Despite the claims of the plaintiffs, this case was about contraception and not abortion. The word “abortion” is used 11 times in the Court’s opinion in this case, and opponents of the Affordable Care Act have alleged that the science is unclear on whether some FDA-approved contraceptives like IUDs cause abortions. However, the science is clear: emergency contraception pills and IUDs prevent pregnancy, not disrupt pregnancy.
This troubling decision will negatively affect women and their families.
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in North America. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care, which promotes health and justice for women. Our members include private and non-profit clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, women’s health centers, physicians’ offices, and hospitals who together care for more than half the women who choose abortion in the U.S. and Canada each year. Our members also include public hospitals and both public and private clinics in Mexico City and private clinics in Colombia.
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